Process for producing fiber from hop-vines.



D. N. HONN.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FIBER FROM HOP VINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,060,255. Pat nted Apr. 29, 1913.

.. Stroamego OLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UITD @IY DAVID N. HONN, OF BEDDING, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FIBER FROM HOP-VINES.

Application filed September 29, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID N. HoNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bedding, in the county of Shasta and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes forProducing Fiber from I-IopVines; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in the process of producing fiberfrom hop vines (Hmmtlus Zupulus).

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved processfor separating the fiber from the woody parts and pulp of hop vineswhereby the latter, which have been heretofore considered useless andthrown away, are given a commercial value.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of aportion of a hop vine before being treated by my improved process; Fig.2 is a similar view showing a portion of a vine before being treated anda portion after having been treated to pro duce the fiber.

In carrying out the invention the hop vines are cut into suitablelengths and tied into small bales, which are placed in tanks of stillwater. The vines are permitted to soak in this water from ninety to onehundred and twenty days according to the temperature maintained. Whenthe vines have remained in the water for this period of time they willhave become sufficiently rotted and are then dried in the sun, or ifdesired and conditions are such as to require, the same should be driedin kilns or drying houses. After the vines have been thus thoroughlySpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Serial No. 584,546.

dried they are hackled by pounding or by any other means usuallyemployed in hackling fibers. After the fiber has thus been hackled thesame is bleached in the sun and air or in the drying house until thesame is white, which part of the process usually requires from thirty tosixty days. The fiber thus produced will be long and fine and will beexceptionally strong and durable. Owing to the abundance of the materialin many sections of the country and the simplicity of the process, thefiber may be inexpensively produced by any one and may be used for thepurpose of manufacturing any articles from the finest garment to thestrongest rope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

The process of producing fiber from hop vines consisting in cutting thevines into suitable lengths and tying the same into bundles: second;placing the bundles in tanks of still water and permitting the same tosoak from ninety to one hundred days so as to enable the vines to becomesufliciently rotted: third; after the vines have become suflicientlyrotted they are removed from the tanks and dried by any suitable means:fourth; when the vines are sufliciently dried they are hackled by anysuitable means: finally after the vines have become sufficiently hackledthey are then bleached from thirty to sixty days.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DAVID N. I-IONN.

Witnesses:

J NO. A. RIvERs, L. J. MARSH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

